95...and counting: Dorothy LaPointe’s birthday

HE DID DECLARE: Coventry State Rep. Scott Guthrie presented an official State of Rhode Island citation to his wife’s aunt Dorothy Davidson LaPointe, here with her niece, Lori Guthrie.

BIRTHDAY GIRL: Dorothy Davidson LaPointe (center) is surrounded by four generations of her family at Twin Oaks on Saturday as they celebrate the Warwick resident’s 95th birthday, which was actually Mother’s Day, May 13.

The crown Dorothy Davidson LaPointe was wearing best told the story of a marvelous milestone the Warwick resident reached on Mother’s Day.

LaPointe, whose wardrobe for the day was a colorful blue-highlighted floral print outfit, was adjusting the crown that sat atop her head.

Suddenly, while watching dear ol’ mom admire the silver crown that featured the numbers “9” and “5”, Pamela LaPointe Moio, Dorothy’s daughter who lives in Cranston, said, “Anyone who lives 95 years deserves a special party!”

And that’s what Dorothy Davidson LaPointe, who lives at Kent Regency Center in Warwick, was given Saturday afternoon inside “Billy’s Room” at the famed Twin Oaks Restaurant in Cranston.

LaPointe’s three children, Moio, William and Charles, and more than three-dozen family and friends helped make their guest’s birthday an extraordinary event.

It was a bash that featured many stories of yesteryear from Moio and her two brothers, William whose home is in Malvearn, Pa., and Charles, who lives in San Diego and was unable to attend the party; a party that featured an announcement that thrilled the birthday girl when she learned that her granddaughter Stephanie and her husband, Matt DiGiovanni of Marblehead, Mass., are expecting twins.

The event also featured some pomp, direct from the Rhode Island House, when Representative Scott Guthrie of Coventry, who is married to LaPointe’s niece Lori, presented a House citation to commemorate the milestone day.

“This is an honor and privilege to make this presentation to Aunt Dorothy,” Guthrie said prior to the ceremony. “Wow ... 95 years and counting. What a great honor for a great lady!”

The birthday bash naturally featured a classic cake that Stephanie brought with “Happy 95th Birthday” on the icing.

It also featured a special gift from Pamela LaPointe Moio’s friend, Anthony Ursillo. He presented Dorothy with a specially designed arrangement of fresh fruit from Edible Arrangement’s new location in Cranston.

“This family really made Dorothy’s 95th birthday one for the books,” said Ursillo, who is a board member of the Johnston Historical Society and North Central Chamber of Commerce. “The cake was delicious ... it really went fast. I was personally honored to help Dorothy celebrate on her special day!”

Ursillo, who has long been friendly with Pamela, added, “What made it nice for Dorothy is that there were four generations of family members here today. That’s something that’s certainly not a common occurrence, especially when someone turns 95.”

Among the family in attendance were William LaPointe’s daughter, Julie-Ann Stimmel, and her husband, David Stimmel, and their daughters, Sarah, 5, Charlotte, 3, and Jane Helen, 8 months.

Dorothy’s granddaughter Michelle, who is married to Ehrika Tourigney, was also on hand for the special party.

Thus, venerable Dorothy Davidson LaPointe, who worked as a cashier at Rhode Island Hospital until an automobile accident in 1954 forced her into retirement at 58, was given what someone suggested was, “The party of a lifetime!”

When asked what her secret was for living a long life, Dorothy Davidson LaPointe sat up quickly in her wheelchair and quipped, “If I tell you, it won’t be a secret!”